Chikara Mochi / photo: Stephanie Kordan Chikara Mochi in Gardena specializes in sweet mochi cakes (called "wagashi") traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies, but many of their customers buy them often as gifts. The owner of Chikara has been making handmade mochi since 1985, with a bevy of mochi cakes flavors to choose from, such as sakura (cherry blossom), botan (peony), kiku (chrysanthemum), and others, resembling fruits, flora and fauna of the seasons. They are almost too pretty to eat.
8/23

Providence / photo: Stephanie Kordan & Eddie Lin A roulade of Earl Grey flexi-ganache set upon an alpaco crispy rice puff, inside the roulade is chocolate genoise, served with barley streusel and barley milk tea ice cream. Pastry chef Jessie Liu shares that this dessert was inspired from her childhood in Taiwan where barley milk tea was her favorite treat. Many of the desserts served at Providence have her signature Asian-inspired flair.
10/23

Somi Somi / photo: Stephanie Kordan & Eddie Lin Somi Somi is an Instagram popular ice cream shop located on the second floor of Madang Mall plaza in Koreatown. Called "ah-boong” in Korea, they serve "taiyaki" ice cream, an Asian mash-up of creamy soft-serve ice cream in a fish-shaped waffle cone. Taiyaki are Japanese fish-shaped cakes, originating in Tokyo, found all over Japanese food courts. The Koreans took it a step further and made it into a fish-shaped waffle cone filled with soft serve swirly goodness. Go get Somi Somi and you'll be hooked.
12/23

Bhan Kanom Thai Sweets / photo: Stephanie Kordan & Eddie Lin A bevy of Southeast Asian treats can be found at this Thai sweet shop in Thai Town. Family-owned, this unique Thai store is well known for making their own desserts. The shop is stocked full with a large selection of packaged sweets and drinks. You will find Kanom Krok (grilled coconut milk), Kanom Bueng (crispy crepe cookies filled with meringue and sweet egg) along with a great variety of desserts you may not find anywhere else except Thailand.
15/23

Shuhari Matcha Cafe / photo: Stephanie Kordan Shuhari Matcha Cafe is the quintessential Japanese tea house, the real deal kind of spot that can only be found in Japan. Yet, lucky for us Angelenos, this quaint matcha shop is located on Abbott Kinney. In the midst of all the bustle you can zen out with a cup of perfectly whisked green tea as if you were at a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. On the sweet side, Shuhari sundaes are an indulgence: Nutty Black Sesame, Matcha, and Ginger Zing, or if you are in the mood, have a Matcha Affogato.
16/23

Bhan Kanom Thai Sweets / Stephanie Kordan & Eddie Lin You can eat up a bunch of these hot little things in no time at Bhan Kanom Thai Sweets: kanom bueng, a crispy crepe cookie filled with meringue and sweet egg (or shrimp) is made hot on the griddle while you watch and wait.
17/23

Créme Caramel / photo: Stephanie Kordan Créme Caramel in Sherman Oaks/Van Nuys is a sweet stop for Filipino style pastries and coffee. Along with their sister location in Silverlake, FrankieLucy Bakeshop, they offer up some of the best Filipino leche flan in all of Los Angeles. Ube and pandan flavors reign supreme, along with this giant egg tart for the Lunar New Year paired with an ube latte.
21/23

Hisaya Kyoto Roasted Chestnuts / photo: Stephanie Kordan & Eddie Lin Roasted chestnuts are a thing in Kyoto, and have been for hundreds of years. Here in Los Angeles we have a taste of Kyoto's tradition of roasted chestnuts made fresh to order at Hisaya in Torrance, the only location outside of Kyoto. They also have roasted chestnut soft serve sundaes: Fuji Mountain sundaes and Chestnuts Snow Storm, made with Sweet Rose Creamery and Hisaya's own fresh roasted chestnuts.
22/23

Where to Find The Best Asian-Inspired Desserts in LA

As culturally diverse as Los Angeles is, Asian desserts are everywhere. You can indulge in traditional Taiwanese bao bing (shaved ice) slathered in sweet red bean, taro balls and condensed milk, or you can try the creamiest soft serve matcha ice cream swirled inside a fish-shaped waffle cone (taiyaki in Japanese, ah-boong in Korean). There are many Asian-style desserts made with matcha, of course, so matcha lovers are covered. But have you ever tried Kyoto-style roasted chestnuts? Make that a chestnut soft serve sundae made with fresh roasted chestnuts, covered in candied chestnuts. How about Thai sweets like kanom bueng, a crispy crepe cookie filled with meringue and sweet egg? Yes, not only matcha here. We've got black sesame, red bean, coconut, yuzu, pandan, ube and more. The range of desserts goes from wagashi mochi (traditional Japanese mochi cakes) to churros covered in star anise sugar paired with Sichuan chili chocolate and beyond. From food trucks to fine dining, here's where we discovered the sweetest Asian treats in Los Angeles.

As culturally diverse as Los Angeles is, Asian desserts are everywhere. You can indulge in traditional Taiwanese bao bing (shaved ice) slathered in sweet red bean, taro balls and condensed milk, or you can try the creamiest soft serve matcha ice cream swirled inside a fish-shaped waffle cone (taiyaki in Japanese, ah-boong in Korean). There are many Asian-style desserts made with matcha, of course, so matcha lovers are covered. But have you ever tried Kyoto-style roasted chestnuts? Make that a chestnut soft serve sundae made with fresh roasted chestnuts, covered in candied chestnuts. How about Thai sweets like kanom bueng, a crispy crepe cookie filled with meringue and sweet egg? Yes, not only matcha here. We've got black sesame, red bean, coconut, yuzu, pandan, ube and more. The range of desserts goes from wagashi mochi (traditional Japanese mochi cakes) to churros covered in star anise sugar paired with Sichuan chili chocolate and beyond. From food trucks to fine dining, here's where we discovered the sweetest Asian treats in Los Angeles.